Started in 2004, BBC's Bombay’s Challenge Event Training Series (BCETS) is a 15 week early season training ride preparing riders for hilly endurance events such as The Horribly Hilly Hundreds in June, Ride Across Wisconsin, IRONMAN Wisconsin and Dairyland Dare. It is also excellent training to just improve your climbing skills, endurance and overall fitness. The rides are designed to have significant climbing, both gradient and length of climb (climbs can be a few miles in length). This challenging program will help you to reach your peak fitness in mid June.
A $70 fee is due when you register for the BCETS program. We have kept this fee as low as possible for several years while increasing its value. The fee includes:
- An orientation social with food and refreshments
- 15 training rides from March to June with ride leaders to help and encourage you towards your fitness goals
- A supported century ride with fueling and hydration stops
- The first ride includes a stop at the Oregon Firefly cafe where BBC will buy your coffee and a bakery item
- The final ride includes a celebration, all you can eat picnic with refreshments
- An indoor hill climbing seminar with food and refreshments
- Nutrition seminar with food and refreshments
- Paid guest speakers
- RWGPS Club level benefits
- An optional BCETS specific custom design cycling Jersey for $55
- 50% discount on DexaFit VO2 max testing and 3D body composition scan
An active BBC Club membership is required for BCETS registration. BBC annual membership is $35 for an individual or $50 for a household. Select here to join or renew BBC Membership.
Is BCETS for Me?
BCETS requires good physical fitness prior to the start of the program. During the winter months, we recommend preparing by riding indoors - eg joining the BBC Zwift Events, running, swimming or other regular physical activity. If you aspire to reach a minimum average speed of about 13 mph for up to 100 miles over very hilly terrain to improve your fitness and climbing skills, you will fit in. You'll get help and motivation from other friendly BCETS riders ready to share their passion and encouragement for riding the hills of western Wisconsin.
The Training Series and Routes
- Outdoor training rides are every Saturday morning from early March and ending in early June just before the Horribly Hilly Hundreds
- The routes follow many of the hills and roads of the Horribly Hilly Hundreds on the gorgeous and very hilly terrain in and around Blue Mounds and Mt Horeb. Select here to view the BCETS RWGPS routes
- Ride distance and elevation increase through the 15 week series, beginning with two relatively easy rides and quickly progressing to very hilly and challenging. Rides range from 30 to 70 miles with a 100 mi ride towards the end of the program. Hills are the challenging feature of the series with rides ranging from 1,000 to 6,000 ft of climbing and occasional gradients exceeding 15%
- We ride in groups to accommodate different abilities and to minimize our footprint on country roads. Each group is led by a ride leader
- We take rider safety seriously, all riders must follow the BBC Rider Safety Responsibilities
Ride With GPS Club - BCETS
To join, select here (The BCETS RWGPS Club is separate from the BBC RWGPS Club)
- If you already have a RWGPS account, select Sign in to your account and enter your RWGPS personal account email and password
- If you don't have an account, select the Sign up button and enter your name, email address etc.
50% Discounted DexaFit Fitness Testing
Two types of DexaFit fitness tests are available to registered BCETS riders. These will give you important insights into where and how you can improve your fitness and physical health. Select here for more information.
-
VO2 Max Test (BCETS price $90, normally $175
This test measures your VO2 Max value and your Max HR. The test protocol is similar to doing an FTP test and is performed on a stationary bike or treadmill.
- Dexa Body Composition Scan (BCETS price $75, normally $150)
This test measures muscle mass, body fat distribution, including visceral fat (fat around your organs) and bone density. The test is performed using a very low dosage x-ray scan on an open horizontal table.
Zwift Club - BCETS
If weather cancels a ride, we will substitute a Zwift hilly ride with optional Discord. If you're new to Zwift or need a refresher, select here.
To join the BCETS Zwift Club, select here (This is separate from the BBC Zwift Club)
- The Zwift ride will be at 10am on the same Saturday as the cancelled ride
- The ride will be posted on the Zwift Companion app on the morning of the cancelled ride. Select CLUB, BCETS then +
Zwift Club - BBC
BBC has 3 Zwift rides per week from the last week in Nov to Mid Mar - Wednesday at 6pm, Saturday and Sundays at 9am. Consider this as an addition to your winter season training and is a great way to be ready for BCETS in March. Select here for more information.
Discord
The Discord server name is BCETS-Riders and the address is https://discord.gg/CwnQ4dTp5b. There are several text channels where we have fun sharing cycling thoughts and humor and of course discussing BCETS related topics with other riders, ride leaders and the BCETS committee. The voice channel is used for a Zwift ride when a BCETS ride has been cancelled for unsafe weather conditions. For help getting started and using Discord, select here